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The Pittsburgh Steelers are 4-2 and tied for first place in the AFC North, but they could make a drastic change at quarterback going into Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday that Pittsburgh will give quarterback Russell Wilson first-team reps in practice leading up to the game he is “in line” to play. Wilson has been sidelined by a calf injury that is now “fully healed,” but Justin Fields has played well in his place.
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor noted both signal-callers will practice Wednesday with head coach Mike Tomlin saying Wilson remains in “consideration” for the Jets game.
On the surface, Wilson has the better overall resume between the two quarterbacks.
He is a nine-time Pro Bowler who won a Super Bowl during his time on the Seattle Seahawks, while Fields never fully lived up to expectations with the Chicago Bears after they selected him with a first-round pick in 2021.
However, Wilson was just 11-19 as a starter during the past two seasons with the Denver Broncos and didn’t look like the same quarterback who was so impressive in Seattle. He also turns 36 years old next month and is nowhere as mobile as Fields.
Fields’ running and ability to escape pressure and keep plays alive has been key for the Steelers this season, as he has 231 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
The biggest question surrounding the Ohio State product has always been about his passing accuracy, but his completion percentage of 66.3 this season would be a career-high mark. He has also thrown for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception through six games.
Fields has done all this while working in an offense that is not exactly loaded with playmakers. George Pickens is the only wide receiver with more than 10 catches, and there have even been question marks surrounding him to this point of the season.
After all, he saw reduced snaps and was fined for an explicit message on his eye black during a game against the Dallas Cowboys. What’s more, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported he “has shown up late for work on multiple occasions this season.”
Despite all of that, Fields has the Steelers at 4-2 and right in the middle of the early playoff picture.
Yet that might not be enough to keep his starting job with Wilson lingering as another option.
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